MUNCIE, Ind. — This was the moment Tom Nichols had been waiting for his entire life, and he never saw it coming.

After Nichols broadcasted his 4,000th career professional baseball game on Aug. 8 and the Dayton Dragons – the Class A affiliate of the Cincinnati Reds – returned home, the team’s front office called a meeting. Nichols, a 1982 Delta graduate and 1986 Ball State graduate, was asked to read a letter in front of the staff.

Nichols soon discovered that the Dragons and Reds had already worked out the details. After 31 years in the minor leagues – riding the bus from town to town, staying in cheap hotels and rarely missing a game – Nichols was going to the big leagues.

It was just for one game – three innings to be exact. Nichols joined the radio broadcast team of Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings during the Reds’ win Tuesday night against Milwaukee.

"It’s important to me because I’ve put so much of my life into this career," Nichols said beforehand. "I think it’s similar to Moonlight Graham, the character in (the movie) 'Field of Dreams' who played one inning but never got to bat.

"It’s only one game, but it will mean a lot to me. I’ve ridden the buses and called the games. Now I get to sit in an MLB broadcast booth."

Thanks to everyone for their kind words and support. I was truly amazed (stunned actually) by the level of interest in this story. Thanks to @Reds, @700, Marty, Jeff, and Yid, and Robert Murphy & Eric Deutsch of the Dragons. Dream night for me. pic.twitter.com/DZv9ttdBoH

When Nichols found out he would be calling a Major League game, he thought back to his childhood. Growing up in Farmington, he could ride his bike down Leslie Drive in the summer and listen to the Reds game because someone would be on their front porch listening. As he rode down the street, someone at the next house would be listening. And on and on. In an era when only a handful of games would be on television, radio was the way to listen to the Big Red Machine.

And that’s how Nichols fell in love with the Reds – and broadcasting. He grew up listening to Brennaman and Joe Nuxhall and decided that’s what he wanted to do too.

Nichols launched his career in 1988 with the Indianapolis Indians, the first of seven teams he would work for, while he was still working in Muncie with WLBC. It’s been a remarkable career for Nichols, as Hall of Famer Randy Johnson was on that Indians team when he started his career, and now he is working for a Dragons team that has sold out every game in its 18-year history and in 2011 broke the all-time record for a professional team.

But always in the back of his mind, Nichols wanted that chance to work in the big leagues.

"Once you enter the business, you’re just looking for that opportunity to work in the big leagues," Nichols said. "That ship has sailed. I’m 54 years old now, so it’s unlikely I’ll get a full-time MLB job at this point based on that they are looking for younger guys now.

"The fact that it’s happening now might mean even more, because it’s happening at a time where it’s pretty clear the minor leagues are pretty much as far as I’ll go."

That’s why there has been such an outpouring of support. Reds pitcher Sal Romano and catcher Tucker Barnhart both reached out to congratulate Nichols after the milestone, as did a few other former Reds players who played in Dayton and got to know Nichols. Romano messaged Nichols again Monday after the Reds made the announcement.

Congratulations to Dragons broadcaster Tom Nichols on calling his 4,000th career broadcast tonight! Thanks @Reds for giving Tom & the Dragons a special s/o during their broadcast today! Read about Tom's top baseball & personal moments in his career >> https://t.co/uCAextOyp4pic.twitter.com/oTMzKXNVuM

Even though he has spent his entire career in the minor leagues, Nichols doesn’t regret going into broadcasting. He loves the grind and will continue to do it as long as his health allows. He missed 15 games last season due to kidney stones, but before that, he hadn’t missed a game in 27 years. It is fitting that the Dragons and Reds picked a day to honor Nichols when the Dragons were off, so Nichols wouldn’t miss a game.

"It’s been the best career for me, honestly," Nichols said. "People have asked me that lately, did you ever think about just quitting and getting a different job? For me, this was the right career, whether it was major league or minor league. It was the correct career path, whether I get to MLB or not, and it was worth it. It’s something I’ve enjoyed entire career, and that’s why I continue to do it after 31 years."

Ryan O’Gara is a sports features writer at the Star Press. Contact him at (765) 213-5829, rogara@muncie.gannett.com or @RyanOGara.